UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia offers graduate
studies in radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry leading to M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees. Courses in basic radiochemistry (and laboratory), nuclear chemistry, advanced
radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry are offered on a regular basis. Radiation
biology, radiopharmacy, nuclear physics and various nuclear engineering courses are
offered through the departments of radiology, physics and nuclear engineering. In
addition, a minor degree in radiopharmaceutical chemistry is available to students wishing
to specialize in one of the other areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic,
physical).

The primary emphasis in graduate study is research, and the strength of the
radiochemistry program is the breadth of research interests of the faculty, the
interdisciplinary research efforts and the available facilities. The University of
Missouri-Columbia (MU) is the home of the largest university research reactor in the world
(10 MW power; MURR). MURR provides radioisotopes for research to various departments on
campus and externally to both universities and industry. The Center for Radiologic
Research (CRR) allows scientists from the chemistry department, MURR and the radiology
department to collaborate in a facility separate from any of the individual departments.
In addition to the facilities at MURR, the chemistry department radiochemistry facilities
include wet radiochemistry laboratories (for both short and long lived radionuclides),
instrument/counting laboratories including a liquid scintillation counter, automatic
gramma counter, radioisotope TLC scanner, three state-of-the-art HPLC systems with
detectors for gamma and beta emitters, as well as UV- visible detection, NaI(Tl) and
Ge(Li) detectors for single and multichannel analyses, a variety of radiation detectors
and extensive nuclear equipment. Facilities at CRR include 3 wet chemistry labs, 2
radiochemistry labs, an instrument lab with HPLCs, 2-D radiochromatogram scanner, FT-IR,
GeLi gamma analysis system and a 300 MHz NMR. Laboratories at the University affiliated H.
S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital are utilized for radiochemical and biological (animal, cell
culture, metabolism, etc.) studies.

Research in the radiochemistry/radiopharmaceutical chemistry group is
multidisciplinary. The area of radiopharmaceutical research, targeting both diagnostic and
therapeutic medical applications, includes (1) development of radiochemical methods for
the production and supply of reactor produced radionuclides; (2) synthetic organic and
inorganic chemistry to develop chelates for radionuclides as potential
radiopharmaceuticals; (3) in vitro and in vivo studies of radiolabeled biologically active
molecules (i.e., peptides, antibodies, etc.). These projects are directed by Professors
Silvia Jurisson (chemistry), Robert Kuntz (chemistry), Elmer Schlemper (chemistry), Gary
Ehrhardt (MURR/chemistry), Kattesh Katti (MURR/chemistry), Alan Ketring (MURR/chemistry),
and Wynn Volkert (radiology).

The application of nuclear methods of analysis (neutron activation analysis and gamma
ray spectroscopy) to the study of nutritional and health-related problems is directed by
Prof. J. Steven Morris (MURR/chemistry).

Research in the area of safe disposal of nuclear waste focusing on the efficient
separation of the actinide metals from mixtures containing rare earth metals is directed
by Prof. Paul Sharp (chemistry). A separate research program on the separation and/or
immobilization of Tc-99 from fuel rod reprocessing is directed by Professors Silvia
Jurisson and Kattesh Katti.
The above research programs are interactive and encourage collaborative studies.
Research and teaching assistantships are available.